Toy sparking cannon or the like



Dec. 7, 1943. w. J. BURCHETT 2,336,391

I TOY SPAHKING CANNON OR THE LIKE Fild Dec. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-finest 1' l lll INVENT /MQM ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1943.

W. J. BURCHETT TOY SPARKING CANNON 0R' THE LIKE 'Filed Dec. 6, 1941 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W l. U. 5.. 1 m J Q w mi m m i Patented Dec. 7, 1943 UNITED STATES rarest .O'FEYEQE 2,336,391 TOY SPARRING CANNGN on THE LHKE Jersey Application December 6, 1941, Serial No. 421,885

(Cl. iii-lo) 2 Claims.

My invention relates to toy vehicles particularly of the type known as toy cannons or toy guns.

My invention has particular reference to a toy cannon embodying novel mechanism for firing a toy projectile or missile; more particularly, my invention relates to a toy sparking cannon comprising novel mechanism for simultaneously firing the toy cannon and producing a shower of sparks at a desired location with respect to the cannon barrel.

My invention has further reference to a novel toy bullet, projectile or missile having the nose thereof equipped with a small mass of yieldable or cushioning material which serves to prevent damage to an object struck thereby.

My invention has further reference to toy wheels of novel character and, more particularly, toy wheels which, in the peripheral area thereof, simulate the appearance of an automobile tire.

Further objects, advantages and features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing the toy sparking cannon of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of the toy cannon shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4. is a transverse, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line l4 Of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view showing a part of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views showing toy wheels as constructed in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a toy bullet, projectile or missile.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the toy cannon herein illustrated is shown as comprising a pair of wheels W, W rotatable on an axle l to which is secured the cannon trail T and on which is pivotally movable the breech B having the cannon barrel Bl extending therefrom.

The trail T simulates an actual cannon structure of this character. Between and to the rear of the wheels W, it is slotted as indicated at 2 to provide a passage in which the breech B is vertically movable as hereinafter described. At the rear end thereof, the trail '1 may .-be bifurcated so as to pivotally support the eyelet 3. Preferably, although not necessarily, the trail T is formed from wood and, preferably, rows of tacks d or the like are driven thereinto in order to produce an effect resembling actual structures of this general character.

In the slot 2 of the trail T and between the wheels W, the axle I has a freely oscillatory sleeve 5 disposed thereon, said sleeve 5, at each end thereof, having a plate 6 secured thereto, the plates 6 extending upwardly in parallel relation and being joined together by a transverse plate '5 which, on its rear surface, is engaged by a flat plate 8.

The plates '5 and 8 are secured together in any suitable manner. To this end, for example, the upper end of the plate I may terminate in sleeves la between which is disposed a sleeve 8a forming the upper part of the plate 8, these sleeves being alined for the reception of a connecting pin 9. In addition, the plates 7 and 8 should be secured together by lower screws ii).

The breech housing comprises side walls it and l l, a top wall l2, a rear wall It and a bottom wall [4, these walls being secured to each other in housing-forming relation in any suitable manner. As shown in Fig. l, the top wall l2 comprises a vertical section which is secured to the plate by rivets I5 or the like. In addition, those surfaces of the side walls H, H together with the bottom wall It which engage the plate 8 should be soldered or otherwise suitably secured to said plate 8.

The barrel Bl comprises a rear block section l6 having vertical exterior surfaces disposed between the plates 6 and secured thereto by screws 69 or the like. In this manner, said barrel B3 is supported in proper relation with respect to the breech B. The barrel block section it comprises a vertical passage l'l alined, in the lower area thereof, with the bore of the barrel, the passa l'l serving as a means for introducing the toy projectile or missile P into firing position.

The side walls H, H of the breech B support two horizontal members I8 and 19, Fig. 3, the member I 8 pivotally supporting an actuating lever 29 and the member I 9 pivotally supporting a latching lever 2 l. The lever 29 is suitably biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, by a heavy or power spring 22 and the lever El is biased in the same direction, Fig. 1, by a light spring 23.

The actuating lever 29 comprises a forward flat surface to which is suitably secured the base 24 of a hammer :25 adapted to engage the rearsurface of and fire the projectile P as hereinafter described. The plates 1 and 8 are provided with a passage through which the hammer 25 thus moves into firing position and the rear surface of the plate 8 around this passage forms a stop surface to be engaged by the hammer base 24 whereby movement of the actuating lever 20 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, is limited as shown by the broken line position thereof; The upper end of the lever 20 extends through a slot |2a formed longitudinally in the top breech wall l2 whereby said lever 20 may be moved to cocked position as hereinafter described.

The lever 20 comprises a latching section 20a with which the locking section Zia of the lever 2| is automatically engageable when the lever 20 is moved to the cocked position thereof shown by the full lines in Fig. 3. The lever 2| comprises an actuating section extending through a slot |3a provided therefor in the rear breech wall I3. In addition, for firing purposes, the actuating lever 2| has one end of a cord 26 or other flexible element secured thereto, the cord 26 extending through an opening provided therefor in the rear breech wall 13 and, preferably, through an eyelet 21 carried by the trail T, the cord 26 carrying a knob or ball 21a at the end thereof, Fi l.

The trail '1 carries a bracket 28 having a vertical section forming a bearing for a horizontal shaft 29 terminating at one end in a crank arm Zita, the other end of the shaft 29 being threaded for coaction with an interiorly threaded passage extending through a member 34 secured to one of the aforesaid plates 6.

In accordance with the invention, the barrel Bi, at the end thereof removed from the breech has a housing member 3| suitably secured thereto and, if desired, the housing member 3| may carry a gun sight 32. As shown in Fig. 4, the lower surface of the barrel Bi may be cut away to provide space for a pyrophoric sparking mechanism which is carried by the housing member 3| in an offset extension thereof. The serrated wheel 33 and the ratchet wheel 34 of this mechanism are rotatable as a unit on a vertical pin 35 secured to said housing member 3| which, transversely of the serrated wheel 33, carries a tube 36 having a pyrophoric sparking element 3? projecting from one end thereof and biased against said serrated wheel 33 by a spring 38 confined within the tube 36, said spring 33 being held under compression by a cap 39 threaded to said tube 35. j

The barrel B i longitudinally thereof and along its lower surface, is provided with a downwardly facing slot 4% in which is disposed a reciprocatory bar 45 having, at one end thereof, ratchet teeth 52 coactable with the ratchet wheel 34, this end of the bar 4| being seated upon the lower surface of the housing member 3!, Fig. 4. Adjacent its other end, the bar 4| is supported for reciprocatory movement in a supporting plate secured by screws 44 to the front surface of the aforesaid block section 15 of the barrel Bl. To the left of the supporting plate 43, Fig. 3, the bar 4| extends freely through a passage provided in the plates l and 8 just below the passage described above for the reception of the hammer 25, the end of the bar 4| toward the left, Fig. 3, being engaged by the hammer base 24, as hereinafter described, when the actuating lever 28 moves to firing position.

The bar 4| should be biased from right to left, Fig. 3, and, to this end, a helical spring 46 may have one of its ends secured to said bar 4| and the other of its ends secured to the aforesaid supporting plate 43.

The arrangement is such that, when the bar 4| moves from left to right, Fig. 3, the ratchet teeth 42 thereof lock with the ratchet wheel 34 to produce a step of rotative movement of the serrated wheel 33. When the bar 4| moves from right to left, Fig. 3, the ratchet teeth 42 thereof should idle with respect to the ratchet wheel 34. To this end, the end of the bar 4| carrying the ratchet teeth 42 should be capable of limited movement on its seat in the housing member 3| toward and from the ratchet wheel 34. A spring 41, seated and secured in the slot 4|), engages the bar 4| at one of its ends and biases that end thereof carrying the ratchet teeth 42 in such direction that said ratchet teeth tend to remain in engagement with the ratchet wheel 34.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an upstanding plate member 48 may be secured to the plates 6 by screws 49. This plate member 48 is slotted so that it embraces the block section l6 of the barrel B! and, as will be obvious, it simulates the shield of an actual cannon of this general character.

In accordance with the invention and as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, each of the wheels W is formed from wood or equivalent material which may be cut to the desired shape to form hubs, flanges, etc., the peripheral area of each wheel being formed with radial grooves 50. With the wheel periphery painted black and with the inner part of the wheel painted a contrasting color, the black grooved peripheral area of the wheel effectively simulates an automobile the in appearance. This effect may be enhanced by associating a rubber band 5| with the outer surface of each wheel, this rubber being stretched and, while stretched, applied to the outer wheel surface as indicated whereby .the rubber band inherently tends to and does remain in proper position on the outer wheel surface so as to form the tread of the wheel. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each wheel W, concentrically with respect to the axle,

\ may have tacks 52 driven thereinto, these tacks simulating the usual row of bolts with which an automobile wheel is equipped.

In lieu of wood, it shall be understood that the wheels of my invention may be constructed of other material. Thus, in Fig. 7, I have shown a wheel W I formed from molded or casted mem-- bers 53 formed usually from metallic material, the shape and configuration thereof being as desired. These members may be formed separately and then welded or otherwise suitably secured together so as to form a wheel structure simulating a combined automobile wheel and tire in appearance. As with the wheels W, the wheel Wi may have a tread-forming elastic band 5| disposed on the extreme outer surface thereof.

As regards the wheels W, W| of my invention, it shall be understood that they are not to be limited to use on a toy cannon as herein disclosed. As well, such wheels may be used on other vehicles such as toy wagons, toy automobiles, etc.

Referring to Fig. 8, I have shown a projectile, bullet or missile P adapted to be propelled or shot from the toy cannon herein disclosed. As illustrated, the projectile P is a solid structure 55 generally of cylindrical configuration and provided with a tapered nose 55a having a passage in which a piece of cushioning material 55 such as thread, wicking or the like is suitably secured.

The projectile P should be formed from wood or other equivalent light-weight material.

As hereinbefore stated, the trail T, preferably, is formed from wood or the like. The barrel Bl, likewise, and preferably, is formed from similar material. The plates 6, l and 8 together with the breech walls, preferably, are formed from sheet metal. In any event, the distribution of weight should be such that the trail T counterbalances the other parts and causes the barrel B! to assume an elevated position. With the toy cannon thus normally positioned, the shaft 29 may be rotated in one direction or the other by actuation of the crank arm 29:; to move the member 39 along the shaft 29 and thereby change the angle of inclination of the barrel Bl.

In order to shoot the toy cannon, the upper end of the actuating lever 2|] is moved by thumb or finger pressure from the broken line to the full line position thereof shown in Fig. 3 whereupon the lever 2|, automatically, becomes effective to releasably lock said actuating lever 20 in the position last noted. At this time, a projectile or bullet P is dropped downwardly through the passage I! of the block l6 and comes to rest in the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. Thereupon, either the cord 26 is pulled or the actuating section of the lever 2| is moved downwardly to swing said lever 2| in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 3, and release the actuating lever 20. The latter, under the influence of the energy stored in its spring 22, swings in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, with a snapping action and the hammer 25 carried thereby engages the rear surface of the projectile P and propels or shoots the same from the cannon barrel BI.

Simultaneously, the hammer base 24 engages that end of the bar 4| toward the left, Fig. 3, to move said bar 4| from left to right, Fig. 3, by a snapping action and impart a quick step of rotative movement to the ratchet wheel 34 and the serrated wheel 33, the latter coacting with the pyrophoric element 31 to produce a shower of sparks at the end of the barrel Bl. This occurs simultaneously with the ejection of the projectile P from said barrel BI and effectively creates the illusion of a burst of sparks or flame at the end of the cannon barrel.

When the actuating lever 20 is returned to cocked position as shown in Fig. 3, the bar 4| moves from right to left, Fig. 3, under the influence of energy stored in the spring 46 when said bar 4| was moved in the opposite direction during the firing operation. During such movement of the bar 4| from right to left, the end thereof carrying the ratchet teeth moves laterally against the force of the spring 47 to permit said ratchet teeth to idle with respect to the ratchet wheel 34. This operation places the sparking mechanism in condition for subsequent operation in the manner described above.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a toy sparking cannon, a breech housing, a barrel projecting therefrom and adapted to have a toy projectile disposed therein in firing position, spark-producing means disposed adjacent the discharge end of said barrel, an actuating member disposed within said breech housing and movable from a cooked position to a firing position for firing the toy projectile from said barrel, means disposed within said breech housing for holding the actuating member in cocked position, and a rod extending from said breech housing to the spark-producing means, said actuating member engaging said rod and operating said spark-producing means as it moves toward firing position.

2. In a toy sparking cannon, a breech housing, a barrel projecting therefrom and adapted to have a toy projectile disposed therein in firing position, pyrophoric spark-producing means disposed adjacent the discharge end of said barrel, an actuating member disposed within said breech housing and movable from a cooked position to a firing position for firing the toy projectile from said barrel, means for holding the actuating member in cocked position, a reciprocatory rod terminating at one end in said breech housing and extending along said barrel to the sparkproducing means, and a spring for biasing said rod toward said breech housing, said actuating member engaging said rod and moving it against the force of said spring to operate said sparkproducing means as it moves toward firing position.

WALTER J. BURCHET'I'. 

